Switching device



Feb. 26 1924.

G. E. MATHER SWITGHING DEVICE Filed Deo. 13. 1920 Patented Feb. 26, 1924.

y* LUNITED `STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. MATHER, OF MOBSEMERE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NET YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

SWITCHING DEVICE.

Application filed deceniber 13, 1920.

To all ywhom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. MATHER, a citizen of the Unit-ed States of America, residing at Morsemere, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certainL new and useful Improvements in Switching Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improvement in switching devices and particularly to that class of switching devices employed in telephone substation apparatus.

The present switching devices while satisfactory for use in manual telephone eX- change systems where disconnection between subscribers is effected manually, are not so satisfactory in automatic exchange systems where the circuit connections are controlled entirely by the operation of the switches at the subscribers station. In automatic exchange systems connections between subscribers are established by the usual process of removing the receiver from the switchhook and operating an impulse sender which selectively controls automatic switching ap paratus at the central o'ice to connect the calling subscriber to the desired telephone station. In the case of manual systems a momentary or accidental operation of the switchhook serves at most only to attract the operators attention whereas in the case of automatic systems, such aA momentary operation releases the automatic switches at the central oice and disconnects the communicating lines.. Considerable inconvenience is therefore often caused by accidental disconnection due to jars or the depression of the switchhook inadvertently. Such disconnections necessitate restoring each subscribers set to normal and setting up the connection anew.

An object of this invention is to overcome this difficulty by providin means for locking the switch springs in t eir operated position so that said springs will be unaiected by any slight movement of the switchhook.

This invention provides in a switching device a means such. for example as a pivoted catch interposed between the switchhook and springs for locking the springs in operated relation when the receiver is removed from the switchhook and holding the springs in operated relation until the re- Serial No. 430,404.

cciver is restored to normal position where it trips the catch and releases the springs.

Although a desi; stand has been chosen for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it is understood that the invention is also applicable to wall sets and other substation apparatus. The drawings show an arbitrary spring arrangement and any desired spring combination may be used.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 represents a fragmentary view of a desk stand showing a .fnvitching device in its normal or unoperated position. Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of the switching device in its operated position.

Referring to Fig. 1, the switch lever 1 is pivotally supported on a mounting plate 2 and receiver 12 by its weight holds lever 1 in its normal position against the action of tension springs 3. Operatively associated with the tension spring 3 is catch 4. pivotally supported on mounting plate 2. Catch 4 is preferably an L-shaped lever, one arm engaging tension spring 3 and held in engagement therewith by spring 5. The other arm is composed of two parallel sides between the ends of which is secured block 6 preferably of insulating material, leaving a space between said block and arm through which tension spring 3 projects to engagement with insulating stud 7 on switch lever 1.

Insulatingly mounted on plate 2 and in operative relation to lever 1, and spring actuated catch 4, is engaging spring 8 associated with which are the usual contact springs 9. Engaging spring 8 projects a distance beyond the ends of contact springs 9. This projection has a double rightangled bend therein, the end continuing parallel to and in the original direction of said spring and terminating at a fixed distance from the insulating stud 10 on lever 1 in its normal position. On the portion between the right-angled bends in en aging spring 8, is lug 11 for engaging bloc 6 on the spring actuated catch 4 which is moved into engagement with said lug by spring 5 when the switch lever 1 has moved the switch springs to their operated positions, as shown in Fig. 2.

In the position shown in Fig. 2, the switch springs are locked in operated relation by catch 4 until switch lever 1, in its downward movement has closed the space between operating spring 3 and catch L and has removed said catch from engagement with lug 'il on switch spring 8, permitting the restoration ot springs 8 and 9 to normal positions. The interval provided between the arm of catch d and spring 3 together with the movement required to move catch from locking engagement with lug ll on spring S, is such as to insure positive contact between the switch springs 8 and 9 until the switch lever haspractically completed its downward movement thus preventing the accidental opening of contact due to or vibrations oi the switch lever.

Vhat is claimed is:

i. I in a switching device, a Switch lever, switching springs operated hy said le'ver traveling in one direction, and means independent of said lever for locking said springs in operative relation, said lever after a predetermined movement in the opposite direction cooperating with said means to release said springs.

2. A telephone switching device, com prising a mounting plate having switching springs and a switch lever mounted in cooperative relation thereon and an L-shaped catch pivotalljv secured to said plate, one arm of said catch automatically locking said springs in operative relation and the other arm cooperating with said lever under predetermined conditions to release said springs.

In a switching device, a mounting plate, switching springs supported at one end thereon, a Switch lever pivotally secured at the other end of said plate for actuating said springs, an L-sha-ped catch pivotallv mounted on said plate, said catch locking said springs in their actuated position, said lever after a predetermined movement cooperating with said cat-ch to release said springs.

il. In a switching device, a mounting plate, a switch lever pivotally secured at one end thereon, switching springs supported at the other end of said mounting plate in operative relation with said springs, an L-shaped catch pivotall)v mounted on said plate and operative in the same plane as said lever, said catch locking said springs against movement, said lever after a predetermined movement cooperating with said catch to release said springs.

5. A switching device, comprising a lever having alternative positions, switching springs actuated by movement ol.t said lever to one position, means independent of said lever for holding said springs in their actuated position, said means cooperating with said lever under predetermined conditions to release said springs.

o. ln a switching device, a lever capable ole movement to alternative positions, circuit controlling` springs, an operating spring for moving said circuit. controlling springs and said lever to one position, and means for locking said .springs in said position, said lever after a predetermined downward inoven'ient towards its opposite position cooperating with said inea-ns to release said springs.

T. A switching device, comprising a lever capable of upward and downward movement, switching springs operated by the upward movement of said lever, means for locking said springs in operative relation, said means cooperating with said lever after a predetermined downward movement to release said springs.

A switching device, comprising a lever capable of upward and downward movenient, switching springs operated by the upward movement of said lever, means for locking said springs in opera-tive relation, and means integral with said locking means operated hv said lever under a predetermined condition to release said springs.

In witness whereof, I hereunto Subscribe my name this 8th day of December A. D.. 1920,

GEORGE E. MATHER, 

